Event | UEFA Euro 1976 | ||||||
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After extra time Czechoslovakia won 5–3 on penalties | |||||||
Date | 20 June 1976 | ||||||
Venue | Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade | ||||||
Referee | Sergio Gonella (Italy) | ||||||
Attendance | 30,790 | ||||||
The UEFA Euro 1976 final was the final match of the UEFA Euro 1976, the fifth edition of the European Championship, UEFA's top football competition for national teams. Contested by Czechoslovakia and West Germany, the match was played at Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, on 20 June 1976.
En route to the final, Czechoslovakia finished top of their qualifying group, which included England, Cyprus and Portugal. After beating the Soviet Union 4–2 on aggregate over a two-legged tie in the quarter-finals, they progressed to the final after defeating the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the semi-finals. West Germany also won their qualifying group, which included Greece, Malta and Bulgaria, before beating Spain 3–1 on aggregate in the two-legged quarter-finals and then tournament hosts Yugoslavia 4–2 after extra time in the single-match semi-final.
The final took place in front of 30,790 supporters, and was refereed by Sergio Gonella from Italy. Following a 2–2 draw after extra time, Czechoslovakia won 5–3 on penalties to secure a first European Championship title. The winning Czechoslovak penalty, gently lobbed straight in the middle of the net, was famously scored by Antonín Panenka, and his name is now synonymous with that particular style of penalty kick.